Pauoa Bay - Mauna Lani Resort - PHOTOGRAPHER COMMENT

Pauoa Bay is partially enclosed by arms of lava. I was standing on top of one of these flows to take this panoramic picture. Black lava boulders had been placed on top of the lava to form a kind of wall adding further protection to the bay. It meant I could get to my vantage point without getting wet. Helpful.

Panorama of Pauoa Bay and beach at the Mauna Lani Resort at Kalahuipua'a. Pauoa Bay is in front of the Fairmount Orchid Hawaii Hotel, between Holoholokai Beach Park and Namuku Inlet and beach. There is a natural fresh water spring which emerges into the bay just offshore. These may be powered by water flowing through ancient lava tubes, like the Thurston Lava Tube in Volcanoes National Park. These tunnels can run for tens of miles under the surface. The difference in salinity and temperature of the water entering the sea caused a blurring effect. Fresh water on Hawaii was scarce and ancient Hawaiians would lower a stoppered gourd into the freshwater flow in the bay and then open the gourds to allow the fresh water to be collected.